But businessman Paul Millinder wants to block the plan and initiate a Judicial Review with the help of online donations.

“Housing development and airport growth are naturally poor combinations,” said Mr Millinder.

“Like many others, I am concerned that development plans are overtaking the principal use of the airport as a public infrastructure resource.”

The North Yorkshire businessman became locked in a bitter row with airport owner Peel in 2014 after it blocked his plan to build a 136m wind turbine at Riverside Park over alleged passenger safety issues.

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He said he plans to lodge documents against the approval after the first £15,000 is raised: “We have got a very short window. Every day is very precious.

“Once the target is raised, we plan to issue judicial review proceedings to challenge the planning permission and to raise other matters that appear to conflict with those of an operational airport.”

Paul Millinder

The planning committee’s deadlock 4-4 decision on Wednesday was broken by the chairman’s casting vote in favour of the 350-home plan, which also includes up to 2,000sq m of retail space and 2,000sq m of community facilities.

Announcing the airport’s “Northside” proposals in June 2016, Peel chairman Robert Hough said the plan would generate the funds needed for the airport to become a viable business in the long term.

Mr Hough told The Gazette the loss-making airport had not been run down on purpose, as has been accused by campaigners.

“That is categorically wrong,” he said, also denying opportunities had been missed.

“We would certainly always follow opportunities from an airline wishing to engage with this airport,” he said.

“If the opportunity was there in a perfect world, to attract airlines with demand from the public and businesses of course we would revert because that’s what airports are for and we would want a strong profitable airport that meets the needs of the Tees Valley.”

But Gerry Stapleton, from Save Teesside Airport, said the decision handed Peel a “bonanza” £25m despite no certainties over the airport’s future.

He said: “Although it has said it will spend the money on the airport, the council has no means of ensuring that it does, and Peel’s track record of broken promises and lack of investment in the past means that it is doubtful.

“Even if it does it will be spent pursuing an already failing masterplan, and Peel will not give any assurances that the airport will stay open beyond 2021. What a gift.”

Durham Tees Valley Airport

“There are 7,500 people on the Facebook page. If everyone donated £10 we would be very close to the target.”

A Darlington Council spokesman said: “The Council is interested to note that objectors are considering challenging the decision to approve the application. “However, it not possible to comment further at this time, as the Council is not aware of the basis of the possible challenge.”